CARGOCONNECT-MAY23 - Flipbook - Page 18
COVERSTORY
APPAREL SUPPLY CHAIN
INDIA'S DOMESTIC TEXTILE AND APPAREL MARKET
ability to pivot to the latest styles quickly.
The apparel supply chain is also perhaps
one of the most diverse in terms of the raw
materials used, technologies deployed and
products produced. Therefore, a strong
supply chain strategy in such a vast and
regularly transforming industry requires
some special considerations because of
such short-lived product cycles and high
consumer demands.
The apparel supply
chain require bestcase solutions to
every issue
INDIAN TEXTILE AND APPAREL IMPORTS
INDIAN TEXTILE AND APPAREL EXPORTS
18 | CARGOCONNECT MAY 2023
Proactive supply chain management benefits
practically every industry. In apparel, where
fast fashion, ever-shifting trends and microseasons numbering in the double digits
impact the entire industry, it’s absolutely
critical. Fashion retailers must carry a wide
variety of products to fit many customers’
preferences. And the lightning-fast pace at
which items come in and out of vogue means
the industry’s product lifecycle is incredibly
short. The fashion industry is constantly
planning for the next season, getting new
styles into production and perfecting them
before the current pieces fall out of favour.
The industry also has a more complex
supply chain. It includes the manufacturers
creating the fibres, textiles and finished
garments, which adds three links to the chain
before involving wholesalers and retailers.
The supply chain starts with new designs,
which are then produced, distributed and
sold. This added complexity requires an
organised, knowledgeable logistics leader to
drive new products through the supply chain
and manage inventory flow throughout.
Demand forecasting is also challenging
in the fashion industry. Since fashion trends
come and go so quickly, every product at
the start of the season has no sales history.
Therefore, retailers can’t look at the past
year’s sales numbers to determine how a
product will perform. The product life cycle
is short, which means your business needs
to be preparing for the next season and
looking for the next big thing before their
current stock goes out of style.
Most importantly, consumer preferences
are constantly in flux. Last year’s hottest
trend may soon look stale and out of touch,
or it could just as easily continue to rise in
popularity. Trends arise out of the media,
individual influencers, the economy and
even the weather. For example, a rainy